Have you paid for dr visits out of pocket?

[Anonymous]

I am late in the 1st trimester and waiting for new insurance to kick in. I have not been to the dr yet and am getting antsy about it. I am thinking about just going for one visit and paying out of pocket until our insurance kicks in. Has anyone had to do this (pay out of pocket) and can you give me some idea of the cost involved?

[Anonymous]

I don't pay out of pocket but have a $1000 deductible, so according to my forms from CareFirst, the first appointment at 9 weeks was $175 for the office visit and ultrasound plus $330 for all the labwork (blood tests, pap smear, etc.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't pay out of pocket but have a $1000 deductible, so according to my forms from CareFirst, the first appointment at 9 weeks was $175 for the office visit and ultrasound plus $330 for all the labwork (blood tests, pap smear, etc.).

Did you pay upfront or were you billed? I wonder if that is the insurance contract rate or true out of pocket.

[Anonymous]

I didn't pay upfront, but those are the "full" rates that show up on the EOB before the insurance discount. I paid about $120 of the doctor's visit and $200-something for the labwork out of pocket.

[Anonymous]

wow, that is great you got insur. while pregnant. You're a lucky one.

How much longer do you have to wait until the insur. kicks in? Have you had any concerns that would warrant a doc. visit pronto?

If you did pay for a doc. visit - what do you want? In other words - just a doc. confirmation that you're pregnant, a sonogram for an exact due date/peace of mind, some blood work done, or just a plain consult with a doc. to discuss a few things?

Also, just call a few doc. offices and see what their out of pocket charges are ...you'll probably get a range of listings depending on what is going on - lab tests, urine analysis, sonogram, doc. consult, etc.

I know at my doc. office the lab test to make sure your blood work is fine (includes the whole gaunlet of tests - STDs, antibodies, CBC, iron, etc.) was $2000 and the 8 week sono. was $400. At least that is what the insur.company paid. Not sure if that would be the same price for out of pocket folks.

Also, have you considered going to one of those pre natal clinics for low income moms-to-be? I know they offer reduced cost/payment plan options.

Just a thought.

Congrats.

[Anonymous]

We had switched insurances right before my first prenatal appointment, so even though I was covered I didn't have the card and wasn't even in the insurance system yet (so they couldn't verify eligibility). So the OB's office treated me as an uninsured patient and made me pay $300 upfront (just to see the dr, the lab would've been separate). This was at Georgetown. I got the refund once all the paperwork went through.

[Anonymous]

Well, I am insured through DH so the preganncy is not a pre-existing condition. I just feel like I can't wait another month to go to the doctor for tests. I know I am preggo just do not want 16 weeks to be my first visit.